Engine-starter.



H. J. SCHULTE.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 16, 1915.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. J. SCHULTE.

ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION un) DEC. 16, I915.

IL ggafigg Patented Mar. 27,1917. 9 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@7' f4 6 if? 15 44? r 21 26 x 7% Q J f aye e.

HENRY J. SGHULTE, OF FULLERTON, CALIFORNIA.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed December 16, 1915. Serial No. 67,153.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, HENRY J. SoHUL'rE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Fullerton, in the county of Orange and State of California,have invented new and useful Improvements in Engine-Starters, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an engine starter and particularly pertains toa spring actuated mechanism for rotating the crank shaft of the gasengine in starting same.

It is the object of this invention to provide a spring operatingmechanism for starting gas engines which is adapted to be reenergized bymeans of the engine.

Another object is to provide a spring starter for engines adapted to beenergized by the engine having means for automatically cutting outreenergizing connection with the engine shaft when the actuating springhas been wound to a predetermined tension. I

Another object is to provide a simple and effective means for throwingthe spring into operative connection with the engine shaft .to rotatethe latter. A further object is to provide'an actuating spring of thehelical type so formed as to return upon itself to obtain a considerablespring length within a small space.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the invention as applied.

Fig. 2 is a view of same in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1with parts broken away, showing the actuating spring and itsconnections.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section as seen on the line 44 of Fig. 1showing the clutch connections of the engine drive crank shaft.

Fig. 5 is a detail section and elevation as seen on the line 55 of Fig.4-in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the spring windingclutch.

Fig. 6 is a detail section as seen on the line 66 of Fig. 4 in thedirection indicated by the arrows, showing the crank shaftdrivingclutch.

Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 77 of Fig. 3 as seen in thedirection indicated by'the arrows. showing the manually controlledoperating brake whereby the spring is thrown in and out of drivingconnection with the engine shaft.

More specifically, 10 indicates a crank; or drive shaft of the gasenginesuch as is employed in propelling automobiles and the like, andcarried by a frame 11 of any suitable construction.

In carrying out the invention, the outer end of the crank shaft 10 isequipped with a pair of clutches 12 and 13, as particularly shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6. The clutch 12 embodies an internal clutch member -14keyed on the shaft 10, and an external clutch member 15 revolublymounted and held against longitudinal movement in relation to the shaft10. The clutch member 14 is formed in the shape of a disk having aseries of tapered depressions 16 on its eripheral edge in which engagingrollers 1 are mounted. The rollers 17 form a means of connectionbetween-the clutch. member 14 and an annular flange on the member 15encompassing the, disk portion of the clutch, as particularly shown inFig. 6, in a manner as will be later described.

The clutch 13 embodies a clutch member 18 mounted to rotate and heldagainst longitudinal movement in relation to the shaft 10, and aslidableclutch member 19 keyed on the shaft; The clutch member 19 isformed with a taperedannular face 20 adapted to be thrown in and out offrictional engagement with a tapered flange 21 on the clutch me1nber 18,as will be later described. The clutch members 15 and 18- are formed'With sprocket teeth 22 and 23 which are engaged by endless sprocketchains 24 and 25, respectively. x 7' T Conveniently mounted on the frame11 and supported in suitable bearings is a shaft 26 extending parallelto the shaft 10. Revolubly mounted on the shaft 10 and held againstlongitudinal movement thereon a sprocket wheel 27 formed with a brakedrum 28 on one side thereof, around which a brake band 29 extends; the,brake band 29 being normally in engagement with the drum 28 to hold thesprocket wheel 27 against rotation. The sprocket Wheel 27 is engaged bythe sprocket chain 24 leading from the sprockets on the clutch 12, as

shown in Fig. 1. Keyed on the shaft 26 is a sprocket wheel 30 aroundwhich the sprocket chain 25 leading from the clutch 13 passes, as shownin Fig. 1.. Wound around the shaft 26 is a double helical spring 31. Oneend of the outermost portion of the spring connects with the sprocket vwheel 27 ,1 asindicated at 33 in Fig. 3. The

opposite end ofthe outer coil connects with and is formed incontinuation of the inner I coil, the opposite end of which is rigidlyconnected at 34' to a collar 35 rigidly secured to the shaft 26 adjacentthe sprocket 27. As a means for preventing rotation of the sprocket 30by the spring 31, a pawl 36 is mounted on a stationary bearing orbracket 37 and arranged to normally engage sprocket teeth 38 formed onthe hub of the sprocket 30.

The clutch member is' controlled by. a

.lever 39 having a yoke 40 engaging an annular groove 41 on the clutchmember. The lever 39 is pivoted at 4201i a bracket or suitable support43 and has its outer end connected to a reciprocating rod 44 leading vto any convenient point of operation and which rod is adapted to beadvanced or re tracted in any desired manner, to 'rock the lever 39. I

The brake 29 controlling thespring actuated sprocket 27 is controlled bymeans of a reciprocating bar 45 which leads from any'suitable actuatingmechanism and connects with a bell crank lever 46 connecting with an arm47 pivoted at 48 and connected to the brake band 29 as particularlyshown in Fig. 7.

' The operation of the parts previously described is as follows:

Assuming that the spring 31 is under tension and'that it is desired torotate the shaft 10 thereby, on advancin the bar 45 to release the brakeband 29,-t e spring 31 will unwind and in so doing will rotate thesprocket 27 chain 24, and the clutch member ed, the shaft will continuerotating in the direction or the arrow a at a speed greater than that.of, the clutch member 15, the movement of which may be stopped byretracting the bar 45 to'tighten the brake band 29. The rotation of theshaft 10 will then cause the rollers 17 to be retracted into theenlarged portion of the depressions 16 out of engagement with the clutchmember 15.. The latter will then remain stationary and the clutch member14 will revolve therein.

- When it is desired to reenergize the spring 31, the rod 44 is operatedto rock the lever ting out the clutch 13 when the spring 31 1 islengthened so as to cause the member and move the tapered clutch member20 into frictional engagement with the clutch member 18, which will thenrotate and opbe the same;

'- Means are providedfor automatically cuthas been suflicientlyenergized. This means is here shown as consisting of a slidable member49 mounted on the shaft 26 adjacent the outer end of the spring 31; themember 49 being adapted to operate a trip lever 50 to which a connectingrod 51 leading from the outer end of the lever 39 is attached. Ontightening the spring 31 and contracting the coils thereof, this spring49 to advance and voperate the trip lever 50 which in turn will actuatethe lever 39 through the rod 51 in such manner as to throw the clutchmember 20 out of engagement with the clutch member 18; the rod 44 bywhich the clutch had previously been thrown in operation having beenreleased. This arrangement prevents the spring 31 from being over-Wound.

As ameans for permitting the spring to be re-wound independent of theengine shaft 10, the shaft 26 is formed with a squared outer end toreceive a crank 52 as shown in Fig. 2. -Likewise the shaft 10 is adaptedto receive a crank 53 by means of which it may be rotated to start theengine independent of the starting device should occasion so require.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In an engine starter, an engine shaft, 0 a spring for rotating saidengine shaft, means driyen by the engine shaft for energiz ng saidspring, means whereby the spring may elongate as energized, andautomatic means operated by the elongating ac- 5 tion o f sa1d spring todisconnect the spring energizing means'from the engine shaft.

2. In an engine starter, a rotatable shaft,

a spring coiled about said shaft and secured at one end thereto, arotatable element loosely mounted on said shaft and connected to theother end of said spring, an engine shaft, disengageable meansconnecting'the rotatable element to said engine shaft, disengageablemeans rotatably connecting the engine shaft to the first-men tionedshaft to energize the spring, means whereby the spring may be elongatedas energized, and means operated by the elongation of said spring whenbeing energized to automatically throw out of engagement said last nameddisengageable means.

3. In an engine starter, the combination with the engine drive'shaft, ofa clutch member keyed to said shaft, a sprocket adapted to be" engagedby said clutch member when rotated in the same direction as the engineshaft, a second shaft arallel to said engine shaft, a" sprocket. 'w eelloosely mounted upon 'said second shaft, transmission means connectingsaid sprocket wheel and the firstnamed sprocket,-a springwound aroundsaid second shaft and having-one end connected I thereto an'dits otherend connected to said .I

loosely mounted sprocket wheel, a brakeband engaging said wheel to holdit against rotationby said spring, a fixed sprocket wheel secured attheonterend of said second named shaft, a 'loose sprocket wheel mountedupon the outerjend of the engine shaft,"-clutch means for locking saidloose sprocket, wheel ,tothe; engine shaft, transmis sion meansfortproslucing simultaneous rotation'fof the;. sprifc ietww'heels at the ends Ofthefengine and second-named shafts, and

'a -ltoni'atically operabl'ejmeans whereby said mounted upon; thei'end 5clutch member I connected withfth'e fir namedclutch mem 0nd wheelkeyed'fb 1d i connected theret and spring may act-'tojdisengage theloose wheel of the engine shaft from the-.engi ne'shaf 4.' InQanI-engi eer,the combination with the engine ri berkeyed "onff ha'ft, a looserotary :be disengageably bar, a second shaft, transmission gonna and therotary-c111 wound aroundls 'Q- WheeI thereon, between said wheel "ember,a spring 'havin'g one" end opposite end attached to the, wheeabi'akeeband normally engaging saidwwheel tofholdsame against rotationinoppdsi't n to thefs'pring, a sec- L last-named shaft,

a loose 'clutchlniemberion the engine shaft rotatably connected-to" saidwheel, and

means for engaging; said clutch .lmember with the engineshaftto rotatethe second shaft and a wind the spring thereon.

5. In an engine is'tarter the combination with the engine" drive shat,of a clutch member keyed 'o-nisaid ariae shaft, a loose I rotary clutchme'nibeifi adapted to be disengageably c0nnected f'with ,the first-namedclutch member, a se'cond shaft, a. loose wheel ,the'reon,transmission,"connections between said wheel andtheJrQta TY clutchmember, a spring wound around end connected thereto a .a brake'bandnormally engaging said wheelto hold same aga nst rotation in oppositionto'the spring,

Copies of this patent xiiay'jte obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Wnrhington, D. 0.

tating I aft, ofa clutch mem-.

aidfshaft having'one I I and its opposite end attached to the wheel,

a second wheel keyed on said last-named shaft, a loose clutch member onthe engine shaft rotatably connected to said wheel,

means for engaging said clutch member with the engine shaft to rotatethe second shaft and wind the spring thereon, and means operable by saidspring for automatically disconnecting said last-named clutch memherwhen the spring has been wound to a predetermined extent.

6. Inan engine starter, a revoluble shaft, a loose'wheel thereon, ahelical spring wound around said shaft and returned upon itself, havingone end secured to said wheel and its other end engaging the shaft,means for holding the shaft against rotation in oppo- 7. In an enginestarter, at revoluble shaft, '7

a loose wheel on said shaft, a helical springi self with one endconnected'to the'sha'ft and p wound on said shaft and returned uponitits other end connected to the wheel, means for holding said wheelagainst rotation,"

means for holding the shaft against rotation,

invone direction inopposition to the; spring,

said shaftfrom an en'- 'gine shaft, a clutchcontrolling said means.

means for rotating normally disengaged,qmeans for manually" tllI'OWlngin said clutch, andv means controlled by said springjforf' automaticallythrowing out the clutch when the fspring has been wound to a 8. In anenglne a loose wheel onsa d predetermined extent.

self with one end connected to the shaft and Its other end connected forholding said" wheel against rotation,

means for holding the shaft against rotation I in one direction inopposition to the spring, means for rotating said shaft from an en-'gine shaft, a clutch controlling said means for. manually F normallydisengaged, means throwing in said clutch, a trip lever arrangedadjacent the doubled end ofysaid starter, at revoluble shaft, shaft,.ahelical spring wound on said shaft and. returned upon it? to the wheel,means spring adapted to'be engaged bythe latter on extension thereof,and means operable by said trip lever for automatically throwing outsaid clutchi'j v In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to thisspecification. 1

HENRY J. soHUtTE.

Commissioner of Patents,

